Method for controlling plant growth



United States Patent 3,385,691 METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PLANT GROWTHStanley J. Strycker, Midland, Mich., assignor to The Dow ChemicalCompany, Midland, Mich., a corporation of Delaware N0 Drawing. Originalapplication Sept. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 307,787, now Patent No. 3,344,170,dated Sept. 26, 1967. Divided and this application Apr. 8, 1966, Ser.No. 615,855

4 Claims. (Cl. 71-106) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE in combination with acompound of the above formula wherein each R represents nitro.

This is a division of my copending application Ser. No. 307,787, filedSept. 10, 1963, now U.S. Patent 3,344,170.

The present invention is directed to alkylcarbamate compoundcorresponding to the formula and to methods and compositions employingsuch compound for the modification and alteration of the growth ofnumerous organisms. In this and succeeding formulae, R represents alkylbeing of from 1 to 4, inclusive, carbon atoms; R represents a memberselected from the group consisting of hydrogen and nitro; and R"represents a hydrocarbonylene moiety selected from the group consistingof alkylene being of from 2 to 10, inclusive, carbon atoms,Z-butenylene, cyclohexylene, and cyclohexylenedimethylene. These novelcompounds are oils or crystalline solid materials which are somewhatsoluble in many common organic solvents and of very low solubility inwater.

In the present specification and claims, the term alkylene is employedto refer to straight-chain divalent radicals as well as branched-chaindivalent radicals. Representative alkylene radicals include ethylene,propylene, tetramethylene, Z-ethyltrimethylene, hexamethylene,nonamethylene, 1,8-dimethyloctamethylene, and heptamethylene.

The compounds of the present invention wherein R represents hydrogen areprepared by reacting a hydrocarbondiol compound corresponding to theformula with a loweralkylisocyanate compound corresponding with theformula RN=O=O The reaction is conveniently carried out in the presenceof an inert reaction medium, preferably, an organic liquid.

Suitable organic liquids are benzene, chloroform, and tetrahydrofuran.The amounts of the reactants to be emice ployed are not critical, someof the desired product compound being obtained when employing thereactants in any amounts. However, the reaction consumes the reactantsin amounts which represent one molecular proportion of hydrocarbondiolcompound and two molecular proportions of the loweralkylisocyanatecompound, and the use of amounts which represent such proportions, orapproximately such proportions, is preferred. The reaction takes placesmoothly at temperatures between 25 and 80 C., and preferably, attemperatures between and with the production of the desired product.

In carrying out the reaction, the reactants are contacted together inany convenient fashion and maintained for a period of time in thereaction temperature range to complete the reaction. Some of the desiredproduct compound is formed immediately upon the contacting of thereactants; however, the yield of the desired product compound isincreased by permitting the reaction mixture to stand for a period oftime. The rate at which the reaction takes place is increased byemploying in the reaction mixture a small and catalytic amount of atertiary amine, such as triethylamine, and the use of such tertiaryamine is preferred.

Following the completion of the reaction, the product compound isseparated from the reaction mixture by filtration and/or the reactionmedium removed by distillation or evaporation under reduced pressure. Asa result of such operations, the desired hydrocarbonylene bis(alkylcarbamate) compound (R being hydrogen) is obtained as a residue.This residue can be used without purification or can be purified byconventional procedures, such as, for example, washing with water,washing with inert liquid reaction medium, or recrystallization.

The remaining compounds of the present invention, where R representsnitro, are prepared by nitration of the hydrocarbonylenebis(alkylcarbamate) compound. The nitration, which term is employed inthe customary sense to mean the introduction of an NO group into anorganic compound, can be effected by a nitrating agent, such as, forexample, nitric acid, fuming nitric acid, a mixture of sulfuric andnitric acid, other mixtures having nitric acid as a major component,nitronium tetrafluoroborate (that is, NO BF and dinitrogen pentoxide.Preferably, the fuming nitric acid is employed as nitrating agent. Thenitration is conveniently carried out in the presence of an inertreaction medium, preferably, an organic liquid. Organic liquids whichcan be used include acetic anhydride, methylene chloride, and benzene.However, higher yields of the product result from the use of fumingnitric acid as both nitrating agent and reaction medium, and suchpractice is preferred.

The amounts of the hydrocarbonylene bis(alkylcarbamate) compound andnitrating agent to be employed are not critical, some of the desiredproduct compound being obtained when employing the reactants in anyamounts. The reaction consumes the reactants in amounts which representone molecular proportion of hydrocarbonylene bis(alkylcarbamate)compound and two molecular proportions of nitrating agent. However, theuse of hydrocarbonylene bis(alkylcarbamate) in an amount whichrepresents one molecular proportion and nitrating agent in an amountwhich rpresents an excess of the two molecular proportions consumed,such as five to ten molecular proportions of nitrating agent, ispreferred.

The reaction takes place smoothly at temperatures between 20 and 25 C.Higher temperatures can be employed; however, the use of highertemperatures tends to result in decomposition of the product compound asit is formed in situ. Preferably, the reaction is conducted attemperatures of about 5 to 10 C. The reaction is exothermic; it istherefore preferable to provide the reaction mixture with means tomaintain the temperature of the reaction mixture without such unduetemperature rise as would bring the mixture to a temperature higher thanthose hereinbefore described.

In carrying out the reaction, the reactants are contacted together inany convenient fashion and maintained for a period of time in thereaction temperature range to complete the reaction. Some of the desiredhydrocarbonylene bis(alkylnitrocarbamate) product compound is formedimmediately upon the contacting of the reactant; however, the yield ofthe desired product compound is increased by permitting the reactionmixture to stand for a period of time.

Upon the completion of the reaction, the desired product compound can beseparated from the reaction mixture by filtration and/or the reactionmedium removed by distillation or evaporation under reduced pressure. Asa result of these operations, the product is separated from the reactionmixture as a residue. However, when the desired product compound issoluble in the reaction mixture, the product can be obtained as aprecipitate by dilution of the reaction mixture with a quantity ofwater. Such dilution also serves to lessen the chance that undesirableside reactions will take place. The desired product compound is thenobtained as a residue by filtration of the diluted reaction mixture.

The product residue obtained by separation of the product from thereaction mixture can be used without purification or can be purified byconventional procedures, such as, for example, washing with water,washing with inert liquid reaction medium, or recrystallization.Solvents which can be employed as media for the recrystallization ofproduct include isopropanol, cyclohexane, and ethanol.

The following examples represent the best method known to the inventorto practice the present invention and, without more, will enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the present invention.

Example I.Ethylene bis (methylcarbamate) o cHa-NH--O-OHr-CHr-O-iL-NH-Olh Ethylene glycol (9.3 grams; 0.15 mole) was mixed,with stirring, with 100 milliliters of benzene. To the resulting mixturewas thereafter added, with stirring, 15.0 grams of methylisocyanate(0.32 mole), and 1 milliliter of triethylamine. The reaction mixture wasthen heated to a temperature of about 80 C. for a period of 1 hour.Thereafter, the heated reaction mixture was permitted to cool for aperiod of time, during which the ethylene bis(methylcarbamate) productcrystallized in the reaction mixture. The crystalline product wasseparated from the reaction mixture by filtration and the separatedproduct dried. After several recrystallizations from methyl ethylketone, the product was found to melt at 128-130 C. and to have anactual nitrogen content of 15.86 percent as compared with a theoreticalnitrogen content of 15.90.

Example II.-1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene bis (butylcarbamate) ExampleIII.-Hexamethylene bis (methylcarbamate) o I II oHrNH-d-o om o-o-NH-(JIL1,6-hexanediol (18.0 grams; 0.15 mole) was added, with stirring, to 200milliliters of chloroform. To the resulting mixture was thereafter added20 grams of methylisocyanate (0.35 mole) and two milliliters oftriethylamine. The resulting reaction mixture was heated to atemperature of about 60 C. for a period of time. As a result of theseoperations, there was obtained the hexamethylene bis(methylcarbamate)product as a crystalline residue. This residue was separated from thereaction mixture, and the separated product purified byrecrystallization from benzene. The purified product was found to meltat 123-123.5 C. and to have an actual nitrogen content of 12.02 percentas compared to a theoretical nitrogen content of 12.06 percent.

In a similar manner, other products of the present invention areprepared as follows:

Hexamethylene bis(ethylcarbamate) belting at 97.5 C.) by reactingtogether 1,6-hexanedio1 and ethylisocyante.

Trimethylene bis(butylcarbamate) (a White crystalline solid melting at99-102 C.) by reacting together 1,3- propanediol and butylisocyanate.

Ethylene bis(isopropylcarbamate) (molecular weight of 232.3) by reactingtogether ethylene glycol and isopropylisocyanate.

Tetramethylene bis(methylcarbamate) (melting at 138-1395 C. and havingan actual nitrogen content of 13.77 as compared to a theoreticalnitrogen content of 13.72) by reacting together 1,4-butanediol withmethylisocyanate.

T etramethylene bis(butylcarbamate) melting at 111.5-

by reacting together 1,4-butanediol with butylisocyanate.

Propylene bis(methylcarbamate) (as a white crystalline solid melting at74-76 C.) by reacting together 1,2- propanediol and methylisocyanate.

1,4 cyclohexylenedimethylene bis(methylcarbamate) (melting at 149-150C.) by reacting together 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and methylisocyanate.

Propylene bis(secbuty1carbamate) (having a molecular weight of 274.4) byreacting together 1,2-propanediol with sec-butylisocyanate.

1,2-cyclohexylene bis(butylcarbamate) (trans form) (a White crystallineproduct melting at 70-72 C.) by reacting together trans1,2-cyclohexanediol and butylisocyanate.

Tetramethylene bis(ethylcarbamate) (melting at 121 C.) by reactingtogether 1,4-butanediol with ethylisocyanate.

1,4-cyclohexylene bis(methylcarbamate) by reacting together1,4-cyclol1exanediol and methylisocyanate. The product is separated intoits cis and trans forms; the cis melts at 168-170 C.; the trans, at203-206 C.

1,2-cyclohexylene bis(methylcarbamate) (molecular weight of 230.3) byreacting together 1,2-cyclohexanediol with methylisocyanate. The productmelts at 143- 145 C.

Ethylene bis(butylcarbamate) (as a crystalline solid melting at 105-1065C.) by reacting together ethylene glycol and butylisocyanate.

2-butenylene bis(methylcarbamate) (as a white crystalline solid meltingat 88-90 C.) by reacting together 2-butene-1,4-diol withmethylisocyanate.

Decamethylene bis(methylcarbamate) (melting at 126-128 C.) by reactingtogether 1,10-decanediol and methylisocyanate.

Trimethylene bis (ethylcarbamate) (a white crystalline solid melting at104-106 C.) by reacting together 1,3- propanediol and ethylisocyanate.

Pentamethylene bis(methylcarbamate) (melting at 120-121.5 C.) byreacting together 1,5-pentanediol with methylisocyanate.

3-ethyl 1,6 hexamethylene bis(tert-butylcarbamate) (molecular weight of344.5) by reacting together 3-ethyl- 1,6-hexanediol withtert-butylisocyanate.

Ethylene bis (ethylcarbamate) (a white crystalline solid melting at97-98.5 C.) by reacting together ethylene glycol and ethyl isocyanate.

Decamethylene bis (ethylcarbamate) (molecular weight of 316.4) byreacting together 1,10-decanediol with ethylisocyanate.

2-butylene bis(butylcarbamate) by reacting together 2-butene-l,4-dioland butylisocyanate. The product, a solid material, melts at 6667.5 C.

Trimethylene bis(methylcarbamate) (melting at 134- 135 C.) by reactingtogether 1,3-propanediol with methylisocyanate.

Pentamethylene bis(ethylcarbamate) (melting at 91- 92 C.) by reactingtogether 1,5-pentanediol and ethyl isocyanate.

Decamethylene bis(butylcarbamate) (melting at 110- 112 C.) by reactingtogether 1,10-decanediol and butylisocyanate.

Example IV.Hexamethylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) A quantity of fumingnitric acid, as a 90 percent solution having a specific gravity of 1.5,was cooled to a temperature of 5 C. Hexamethylene bis(methylcarbamate)(15.0 grams; 0.06 mole), prepared according to the procedures of Example3, was added portionwise over a period of time to 125 milliliters of thefuming nitric acid. Thereafter, the resulting reaction mixture wasmaintained at a temperature of about 0 C. for a period of about 1 hour,after which time the reaction mixture was mixed with 1 liter of icewater. The hexamethylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) product crystallizedin the aqueous mixture as a white crystalline material. This productmaterial was separated from the aqueous mixture by filtration. Theproduct, after several recrystallizations from isopropanol, melts at48-49 C.

Example V In procedures essentially as those employed in Example 4,propylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) is prepared by the reaction ofpropylene bis(methylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid. The product is aliquid having a refractive index 11 measured at 25 C. for the D line ofat a temperature of about 0 C., during which procedure the tetramethylbis(ethylnitrocarbamate) product formed in the solution as a whitecrystalline solid. The product was separated from the solution byfiltration and thereafter dried. After several recrystallizations fromcyclohexane, the product was found to melt at 44-45 C.

Other compounds of the present invention are similarly prepared.

From tetramethylene bis (methylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,tetramethylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) as a white crystalline solidmelting at 9697 C.

From pentamethylene bis(methylcarbamate) and nitric acid, pentamethylenebis(methylnitrocarbamate) product having a refractive index n measuredat 25 C. for the D line of sodium light of 1.4845.

From 1,6 dimethylhexamethylene bis(methylcarbamate) and fuming nitricacid, 1,6-dimethylhexamethylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) product havinga molecular weight of 406.5.

From tetramethylene bis(butylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,tetramethylene bis(butylnitrocarbamate). The product is a liquid havinga refractive index n measured at 25 C. for the D line of sodium light of1.4696.

From trimethylene bis(methylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,trimethylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) product melting at 5253 C.

From hexamethylene bis(ethylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,hexamethylene bis(ethylnitrocarbamate) as a white crystalline productmelting at 68-69 C.

From ethylene bis(ethylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid, ethylenebis(ethylnitrocarbamate) product having a refractive index n measured at25 C. for the D line of sodium light of 1.4836.

From decamethylene bis(methylcarbamate) and a mixture of sulfuric andnitric acids, decamethylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) product. Theproduct is a solid, white in color, which melts at 50-51 C.

From ethylene bis(butylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid, a liquidethylene bis(butylnitrocarbamate) product having a refractive index nmeasured at 25 C. for the D line of sodium light of 1.4750.

From 1,2-cyclohexylene bis(methylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,1,2-cyclohexylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) product as a whitecrystalline solid melting at 6264 C.

From trimethylene bis(ethylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid, a whitecrystalline trimethylene bis(ethylnitrocarbamate) product melting at43.544.5 C.

From 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene bis(butylcarbamate) and fuming nitricacid, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene bis(butylnitrocarbamate) productmelting at 82-83 C. The product has the following structural formulasodium light of 1.4868. The product has the following structuralformula:

0 CH -N( 3OCH CHO( 3NCH I TOz CH3 N02 Example VI.Tetramethylenebis(ethylnitrocarbamate) From decamethylene bis(butylcarbamate) andfuming nitric acid, decamethylene bis(butylnitrocarbamate) product, aliquid having a refractive index n measured at 25 C. for the D line ofsodium light of 1.4715.

From Z-butenylene bis(methylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,2-butenylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) prod uct having a refractiveindex n measured at 25 C. for the D line of sodium light of 1.5070.

From 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene bis(methylcarbamate) and a mixture ofnitric and sulfuric acids, 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) product melting at 9293.5 C.

From pentamethylene bis (ethylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,pentamethylene bis(ethylnitrocarbamate) product. The product has amolecular weight of 336.3 and is a yellow liquid at room temperature ofabout 25 C.

From 1,2-cyclohexylene bis(butylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,1,2-cyclohexylene bis(butylnitrocarbamate) product having a refractiveindex n measured at 25 C. for the D line of sodium light of 1.4846.

From 1,3 cyclohexylenedimethylene bis(sec-butylcarbamate) and fumingnitric acid, 1,3-cyclohexylenedimethylene bis(sec-butylnitrocarbamate)product having a molecular weight of 432.5.

From trimethylene bis(butylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,trimethylene bis(butylnitrocarbamate) product. The product is a yellowliquid having a molecular weight of 36435.

From 1,4cyclohexylene bis(methylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,1,4-cyclohexylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) as a White crystallineproduct melting at 182- 183.5 C.

From Z-butenylene bis(butylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,Z-butenylene bis(butylnitrocarbamate) product having a refractive index21 measured at 25 C. for the D line of sodium light of 1.4850.

From heptamethylene bis(isopropylcarbamate) and fuming nitric acid,heptamethylene bis(isopropylnitrocarbamate) product having a molecularweight of 392.4.

Those compounds of the present invention wherein R" represents alkyleneare particularly useful and constitute a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. Another preferred group of compounds of the presentinvention are those wherein R represents nitro.

It has been discovered that the compounds of the present invention areuseful in a wide variety of operations for the modification andalteration of the growth of numerous organisms such as, for example,mite, tick, helminth, bacterial, fungi, plant, and insect organisms. Insuch operations, a growth altering and/or pesticidal amount of at leastone of the alkylcarbamate compounds is employed.

It has been further discovered that the exposure of a viable form ofplants to the action of the alkylcarbamate compound gives rise todifferent responses depending upon the nature of the plant, the stage ofgrowth or maturity of the plant, and the dosage of alkylcarbamatecompound at which the exposure is carried out. Thus, the application toplants, plant parts, and their habitats of a herbicidal amount ofalkylcarbamate compound suppresses and inhibits the growth of seeds,emerging seedlings, and established vegetation. The application toplants of a lesser and growth-stimulant amount of alkylcarbamatecompound imparts beneficial effects to the growth of the plants, suchas, for example, increased size of produce, or of yield of crop; earlierplant maturation; improved qualitative content of plant parts, such asprotein content in legumes and in members of the Gramineae family;delayed senesence; and the like. The application of alkylcarbamatecompound to plants may be made by contacting the compound with seeds,seedlings, established vegetation, roots, stems, flowers, fruits, andthe like, or by applying the compound to soil.

The application to the organisms or their habitats of a growth alteringamount of alkylcarbamate compound is essential and critical for thepractice of the present invention. The exact dosage to be supplied isdependent upon the organism, the stage of growth thereof, and, in manyinstances, the particular part of the organism to which thealkylcarbamate compound is applied. Where parasite control is desired,the compounds are employed in parasiticidal amounts. Where the inventionis employed to modify and alter the growth of plants, and plant parts,the compounds are employed in plant growth altering amounts i.e. inplant growth controlling amounts. For example, alkylcarbamate compoundcan be applied to plants, plant parts and their habitats in herbicidaldosages.

In foliar applications of herbicidal dosages, liquid compositionscontaining from about 4,000 or less to 20,000 or more parts by weightper million parts of ultimate composition can be conveniently applied toplant surfaces. In the application to growth media of herbicidal dosagesof alkylcarbamate compound, good results are obtained when the compoundis supplied to the growth media in an amount of from about 5 to 300parts or more by weight per million parts by weight of the media. Wherethe growth media is soil, good results are obtained when thealkylcarbamate compound is distributed therein at a rate of from about20 or less to 300 pounds or more per acre and through such a crosssection of the soil as to provide for the presence therein ofalkylcarbamate compound in an amount of from 20 to 300 parts permillion. In such application, it is desirable that the compound bedistributed to a depth of at least 0.5 inch and at a substantiallyuniform dosage of at least 10 pounds per acre inch of soil. Theweathering action of the sun, rain, and possibly the decomposition ofthe agents by the action of soil organisms, eventually reduces theirconcentration in soil, or other growth media.

In other applications of the present alkylcarbamate compounds, theactive agents are employed in plant growth stimulating dosages. In suchoperations, good results are obtained when the compounds are applied toplants and plant parts in dosages of from 0.001 or less to 20 or morepounds per acre. In other similar operations, liquid compositionscontaining from about 1 to about 4,000 or more parts per million can beconveniently applied to the plant surfaces. In the treatment of seed tostimulate seedling growth and obtain improved yield of the plantsproduced by such seeds, good results are obtained when the seeds aretreated with from about 1 to 250 grams (about 0.035 to 9 ounces) ofcompound per hundred pounds of seed.

The method of the present invention can be carried out by exposing theorganisms or their habitats to the action of the unmodified compounds.The present method also comprehends the employment of a liquid or dustcomposition containing one or more of the present compounds as an activecomponent. In such usage, the active component is modified with one or aplurality of additaments or adjuvants for organism growth modificationcompositions, such as water or other liquid carriers, surfaceactivedispersing agents, and finely divided solids. Depending upon theconcentration of active compound, such augmented compositions areadapted to be applied to the organisms and their habitats, or to beemployed as concentrates and subsequently diluted with additional inertcarrier to produce the ultimate treating compositions. In compositionswhere the adjuvant or helper is a finely divided solid, a surface-activeagent or a liquid additament, the carrier cooperates with the activecomponent so as to facilitate the invention, and to obtain an improvedand outstanding result.

In addition, the present method also comprehends the employment ofaerosol compositions containing one or more of the present compounds asan active agent. Such compositions are prepared according toconventional methods wherein the agent is dispersed in a solvent and theresultant dispersion mixed with a propellant in liquid state. Suchvariables as the particular compound to be used and the particularsubstrate to be treated will determine the identity of the solvent andthe concentration of the active compound. The solvent should be of lowphytotoxicity, such as water, acetone, isopropanol or 2-ethoxyethanol,in compositions to be applied to plants for plant stimulation and cropyield improvement.

The exact concentration of the active compound to be employed in thetreating compositions is not critical and can vary considerably providedthe required dosage of effective agent is supplied upon the organism orits habitat. The concentration of the active agent in liquidcompositions employed to supply the desired dosage generally is fromabout 0.0001 to 50 percent by weight. Concentrations of up to percent byweight are oftentimes conveniently employed. In dusts, the concentrationof active component can be from about 0.01 to 20 percent by weight. Incompositions to be employed as concentrates,

the active component can be present in a concentration in an amount offrom about to 98 percent by weight.

The quantity of the composition applied is not critical provided onlythat the required dosage of active component is applied in sufficient ofthe finished composition to cover adequately the organism or habitat tobe treated.

Liquid compositions containing the desired amount of active componentcan be obtained by dissolving the compound in an organic liquid carrieror by dispersing the active agent in water, With the water-solubleagents, the dispersion is facilitated and conveniently accomplished withthe aid of a suitable surface-active dispersing agent such as an ionicor non-ionic emulsifying agent. The aqueous compositions can contain oneor more waterimrniscible solvents for the active agent. In suchcompositions, the carrier can comprise an aqueous emulsion, that is, amixture of water-immiscible solvents, emulsifying agent and water. Thechoice of dispersing and emulsifying agent and the amount thereofemployed is dictated by the nature of the composition type and by theability of the agent to facilitate the dispersion of the active agent inthe carrier to produce the desired composition. Dispersing andemulsifying agents which can be employed in the compositions include thecondensation products of alkylene oxides with phenols and organic acids,alkyl aryl sulfonates, polyoxyethylene derivatives of sorbitan esters,complex alcohols, mahogany soaps and the like.

In the preparation of dust compositions, the active component isdispersed in and on a finely divided solid which is non-reactive withthe active agents, such as talc, chalk, gypsum and the like. In suchoperations, the finely divided carrier is mixed with the active compoundor a volatile organic solvent solution thereof. Similarly, dustcompositions containing the active compounds are prepared from variousof the solid surface-active dispersing agents, such as bentonite,fullers earth, attapulgite and other clays. Depending upon theproportion of ingredients, the dust compositions can be employed asconcentrates and subsequently diluted with additional solidsurface-active dispersing agent or with talc, chalk, or gypsum and thelike to obtain the desired amount of active component in compositionsadapted to be applied to the organisms or their habitats. Also, suchconcentrated dust compositions can be dispersed in water with or withoutthe aid of a dispersing agent, to form spray mixtures. Preferred finelydivided solid adjuvants include those which are of low phytotoxicity toplants and plant parts.

When operating in accordance with the present invention, the activeagents or compositions containing I the agents are applied to theorganisms or other habitats in growth-modifying amounts in anyconvenient fashion, for example, with power dusters, boom and hand sprayers, and spray dusters. In another procedure, the agents or compositionscontaining the same are drilled into soil and further distributedtherein in conventional procedures.

The following examples illustrate the best manner of employing thepresent invention, and, without more, will enable those skilled in theart to employ the method of the present invention.

10 Example VII Compositions containing the compounds of the presentinvention are prepared in various procedures. In one procedure, fourparts by weight of one of the alkyl carbarnate compounds, 0.08 part ofsorbitan trioleate (Span 85 and 0.02 part of sorbitan monolauratepolyoxyethylene derivative (Tween 80) are dispersed in forty millilitersof acetone to produce a concentrate composition in the form of awater-dispersible liquid.

In another procedure, one of the alkylcarbamate compounds is formulatedin water with an alkyl aryl sulfonate (Nacconol NR) and a substitutedbenzoid alkyl sulfonic acid (Daxad No. 27) to produce aqueouscompositions. In such operations, the materials are ballmilled togetherto produce compositions containing varying amounts of one of the activeagents, 300 parts by weight of Nacconol NR and 300 parts by weight ofDaxad No. 27 per million parts by weight of ultimate aqueous mixture. Inthis manner, ballmilled compositions are prepared from all of thealkylcarbamate compounds of the above examples.

Example VIII Liquid compositions are prepared with trimethylenebis(butylcarbamate), pentamethylene bis(ethylcarbamate), and1,2-cyclohexylene -bis(butylcarbarnate) in the ballmilling proceduredescribed in Example 7 and each containing an amount of one of the namedactive agents.

Also, concentrate compositions are prepared as described in Example 7from tetramethylene bis(butylnitrocarbarnate) and propylenebis(methylnitrocarbamate) and the resutling concentrates disposed inwater to prepare aqueous compositions each containing an amount of oneof the named active agents.

These compositions are employed for the treatment of seed beds and sandyloam soil of good nutrient content. Prior to the treatment, the soil isseeded with the se ds of peas (Pisum sativum) and beans (Phaseoltzsvulgaris). In the treating operations, the composition is applied as asoil drench and at a rate of about 0.434 acre inch of aqueouscomposition per acre to supply varying amounts of one of the compoundsper acre and varying concentrations of one of the compounds in the soil.Other areas similarly seeded with the named plant species are leftuntreated to serve as checks. Following the treating operations, theseed beds are observed at regular intervals to ascertain any appreciableeffects upon the germination of the seeds and the growth of theseedlings.

Two weeks following the treating operations, the average height of theplants above the ground line in the treated seed beds is measured andcompared with the average height of the plants in the untreated seedbeds. At the time that the measurements are taken, all of the treatedand untreated seed beds support abundant stands of healthy plants of thename plant species. The results of the measurements, the agents, and theconcentrations and dosages at which the agents are employed are setforth in the following table.

Concentration Percent Greater Stem of Test C om- Dosage of TestElongation of Plants Test Compounds poundln Compound from Treated SoilComposition than from Untreated Soil Parts per Pounds million Peas Beansper acre by weight of soil Trlrnethylene bis(butylcarbarnate) 0. 00861 1. 6 58 Pentamethylene bis(ethylearbamate) 0. 008d 1 1. 6 25 691,2-cyclohexylene bis(butylcarbamate) g: 6 Tetramethylenebis(butylcarbamate) 0. 0086 1 1. 6 114 Propylenebis(methylnitrocarbamate)... 0. 0432 5 8 50 1 1 Example IX Liquidcompositions are prepared with hexamethylene bis(methylcarbamate),trimethylene bis(methylcarbamate), ethylene bis(butylcarbamate),trimethylene bis (butylcarbamate), entamethylene bis(ethylcarbamate),trimcthylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate), and l,4-cyclohexylenebis(methylcarbamate), in the ballmilling procedure described in Example7 and each containing 1,000 parts of one of the named active agents permillion parts by weight of ultimate composition.

Also, concentrate compositons are prepared as described in Example 7from tetramethylene bis (methylcarba-mate), ethylenebis(butylnitrocarbamate), and propylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate), andthe resulting concentrates dispersed in water to prepare aqueouscompositions each containing 1,000 parts of one of the named activeagents per million parts by weight of ultimate composition.

These compositions are employed in post emergent applications for thetreatment of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris). In the treatingoperations, the compositions are applied as foliage sprays to plots ofthe bean plants. At the time of the applications, the plants are fromtwo to four inches in height. The treatments are carried out withconventional spraying equipment, the applications being made to thepoint of run-01f. Similar plots of bean plants are left untreated toserve as checks.

Two weeks following the treating operations, the average height abovethe ground line of the treated bean plants is measured and compared withthe average height above the ground line of the untreated bean plants.At the time the measurements are taken, all of the treated and untreatedplots support stands of bean plants in healthy condition. The compoundsemployed and the results of the measurements are set forth in thefollowing table.

Percent greater stem elongation of treated bean plants than of untreatedbean Test compound: plants Hexamethylene bis(methylcarbamate) 40Trimethylene bis(methylcarbamate) 40 Ethylene bis(butylcarbamate) 50Trimethylene bis(butylcarbamate) 38 Pentamethylene bis(ethylcar'bamate)4S Trimethylene bis(methylnitrocarbamate) 50 1,4-cyclohexylenebis(methylcarbamate) 55 Tetramethylene bis(methylcarbamate) 40 Ethylenebis(butylnitrocarbamate) 52 Propylen bis(methylnitrocarbamate) 50Example X Aqueous spray compositions each containing 4,000 parts byweight of one of various alkylcarbamate compounds per million parts byweight of ultimate mixture are prepared, as in the foregoing examples.These aqueous compositions are employed in post-emergent applicationsfor the control of crabgrass (Digifaria spp.). In the treatingoperations, the compositions are applied as foliage sprays to plots ofcrabgrass. At the time of the applications, the plants are from 2 to 4inches in height. The treatments are carried out with conventionalspraying equipment, the applications being made to the point of run-off.Similar plots of crabgrass are left untreated to serve as checks.

After about two weeks, the plots are examined to ascertain what percentkill and control of the growth of crabgrass is obtained. The testcompounds employed together with the results of the observations are setforth in the following table.

' Percent kill and control of the growth of seeds and seedlings of Testcompounds: crabgrass Ethylene bis(butylnitrocarbamate) 100 Propylenebis(methylnit-rocarbamate) 98 Pentamethylene "bis(ethylnitrocarbamate)Trimethylene bis(butylnitrocarbamate) 98 At the time of theobservations, the untreated check plots are found to suport abundantstands of vigorously growing plants of crabgrass.

I claim:

1. Method for controlling plan growth which comprises applying to plantsand plant parts and their habitats a plant growth controlling amount ofcompound of the formula RN-ii0-R"0i :-N-R

wherein R represents alkyl being of from 1 to 4, inclusive, carbonatoms; and R" represents a hydrocarbonylene moiety selected from thegroup consisting of alkylene being of from 2 to 10, inclusive, carbonatoms, 2-butenylene, cyclohexylene, and cyclohexylenedimethylene.

3. The composition for controlling plant growth which comprises anaqueous dispersion of the composition claimed in claim 2, the activeingredient in such composition being present in the amount of at least0.0001 percent by weight.

4. The composition for controlling plant growth comprising from 5 to 98percent by weight of an active ingredient in admixture with a finelydivided solid, the active ingredient being compound of the formulaReferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1953 Kaiser 260-471 8/1966Damies et a1. 7l2.2

JAMES O. THOMAS, JR., Primary Examiner.

